GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals have a stigma around them of being cheap. The perception starts at the owner Michael Bidwill. For the past two decades, Arizona has only had six above .500 seasons. Despite the low amount of winning, the team is spending money on the roster, being top 10 in total cap allocations six out of the past 11 years. The problem lies in the leaderships and head coaching position.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Arizona has hired five head coaches since 2007, and similar to this coaching cycle, all of them have have been unknown but cheap options. The franchise hasn’t hired an ex-NFL coach since Dennis Green and former players are started to notice. Former Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer believes the problem starts from above.
Jake Plummer, representing Pat Tillman, talks to the press before the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz. on November 1, 2018. © Patrick Breen/The Republic
Plummer calls out Cardinals’ ownership:
The Bidwill family has own the team since 1932 and have had only nine double digit win seasons, with five of them coming in Arizona. The franchise hasn’t been run like a winning organization and isn’t an attractive destination for prestigious head coaches. No Cardinals coach has 50 or more career wins with the team, and only six coaches have more than 30 wins in the 105-year history.
Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill and general manager Monti Ossenfort speak to the press from the Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe after the decision to fire head coach Jonathan Gannon on Jan. 5, 2026. Syndication: Arizona Republic
Following the firing of head coach Jonathan Gannon, Bidwill claimed the decision came down to wins and losses. Despite that claim, Arizona not seriously targeting highly-valued coaching candidates like John Harbaugh, Kevin Stefanski, Robert Saleh, Mike McDaniel or many of the other former head coaches in the NFL doesn’t what Bidwill stated.
Plummer, like many fans across the Valley, is frustrated with the Cardinals struggles throughout the decades and is starting to lose hope that a new coach will be the answer.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
